Sentimental Fool Explained

Sentimental Fool
Cover:	Lloyd Cole Sentimental Fool 1995 single cover.jpg
Border:	yes
Type:	single
Artist:	Lloyd Cole
Album:	Love Story
Released:	13 November 1995^[1]
Length:	3:25
Label:	Fontana Rykodisc (US)
Producer:	Stephen Street
Prev Title:	Like Lovers Do
Prev Year:	1995
Next Title:	Baby
Next Year:	1996

"Sentimental Fool" is a song by English singer, songwriter and musician Lloyd Cole, released in 1995 as the second single from his fourth studio album Love Story. The song was written by Cole and produced by Stephen Street. It peaked at number 73 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 75 for two weeks.

Background

Speaking to The Mouth Magazine in 2016, Cole said of the song's arrangement, "The arrangement is traditional and quite dull. It could have been more inventive."^[2]

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, Music & Media stated that "languid melodies and lost loves form the basis" of "Sentimental Fool". The reviewer added that "acoustic guitars and a modest organ are soon joined by crescendo violins to accentuate Cole's bad luck in romance".^[3] The Guardian were less enthusiastic, writing, "Anybody worried about society's 'dumbing down' should listen to Cole's latest jingle-jangle whine. About 10 years ago, this guy epitomised the coolest kind of songwriterly intellectualism. 'Sentimental Fool' smells of libraries just like the rest of his stuff, except that today his attempts scintillating wordplay sound suspiciously like stupidity."^[4] In the US, Larry Flick of Billboard commented that Cole "evokes romantic emotions and pleasant harmonies on this ballad".^[5]

Track listing

Cassette single (UK and Europe)^[6]

1. "Sentimental Fool" – 3:25
2. "Brand New Friend" (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions) – 4:52

CD single (UK and Europe #1)^[7]

1. "Sentimental Fool" – 3:25
2. "Most of the Time" – 4:06
3. "Millionaire" – 3:04
4. "Sold" – 3:55

CD single (UK and Europe #2)^[8]

1. "Sentimental Fool" – 3:25
2. "Brand New Friend" (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions) – 4:52
3. "Lost Weekend" (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions) – 3:15
4. "Cut Me Down" (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions) – 4:27

CD single (US, 1996)^[9]

1. "Sentimental Fool" – 3:25
2. "Sold" – 3:55
3. "Millionaire" – 3:04
4. "The Steady Slowing Down of the Heart" – 3:25

Personnel

Production

• Stephen Street – producer ("Sentimental Fool", "Millionaire", "Sold")
• Lloyd Cole – producer ("Most of the Time", "The Steady Slowing Down of the Heart")
• Mick Glossop – mixing ("Sentimental Fool", "Millionaire", "Sold")
• Adam Peters – mixing ("Most of the Time"), production thanks ("Most of the Time")
• Clive Langer – producer ("Brand New Friend", "Lost Weekend", "Cut Me Down")
• Alan Winstanley – producer ("Brand New Friend", "Lost Weekend", "Cut Me Down")

Notes and References

1. News: The brilliant new single from Lloyd Cole is Sentimental Fool (advert) . . London . 11 November 1995 . 34 . . subscription . 24 February 2023.
2. Web site: Lloyd Cole (Part Two) . The Mouth Magazine . 1 August 2016 . 24 February 2023.
3. New Releases: Singles . . 25 November 1995 . 12 . 47 . 13 . 29800226 . World Radio History . 24 February 2023.
4. News: Reviews: Singles . . London . 25 November 1995 . 33 . . subscription . 24 February 2023.
5. Flick . Larry . Reviews & Previews: Singles . . 3 February 1996 . Billboard Publications, Inc. . 108 . 5 . 71 . 0006-2510 . Google Books . 24 February 2023.
6. Sentimental Fool . . 1995 . UK and European cassette single sleeve . . LCMCC 2, 852 160-4.
7. Sentimental Fool . . 1995 . UK and European CD#1 single sleeve . . LCDD2, 852447-2.
8. Sentimental Fool . . 1995 . UK and European CD#2 single sleeve . . LCCD2, 852161-2.
9. Sentimental Fool . . 1996 . US CD single sleeve . . VRCD 0327-2.